Which regulator should you donate?

[Welshman]

I think you have to admit that Roakey's approach has logic going for it. His first sentence is spot on. However, the fact is that PADI at least and I suspect many other agencies teaches you to donate the Octo. Accordingly all "off the shelf" set ups come with a shorter primary hose and a longer Octo hose so that donating your primary other than in the immediate short term is not a practical solution because it won't reach far. I also agree with Roakey that if you can't give up your primary to your buddy you shouldn't be diving.

regards

 

[art.chick]

Wow! You guys are right on with some of the training issues; we are not prepared for a realistic panicked diver situation. And some Octos are just junk, cheap decorations to fulfill a requirement. I made damn sure to buy a good yellow reg exactly because I know how scary it is to have a bad one in your mouth when the heat's on! (One of the guys in my rescue class had one that breathed so hard, our instructor got scared!) However, I failed to test it in the pool. I simply sucked on it at poolside. 4 weeks later, the class was learning buddy breathing/octo breathing, & good ol' AI put that yellow straw in her mouth & sucked chlorine water!!! On the surface, I discovered that my new octo had come with no plug on the side. The LDS was very good-natured about fixing it, but what if I had tried to use it with an OOA diver at 60'? Thanks so much for sharing on this topic!!

 

[The Chairman]

either your primary or secondary reg is not cast in stone. Some prefer the bungeed system, some do not. Thinking that the entire diving community will be using the bungeed system so we can all be standardized is pure folly.

PRACTICE is the key. Where your octo is placed is inconsequential, if you do not practice this simple drill with your buddy. Know where your buddies safe second is and make sure they know where yours is. Even go over how you will maintain contact in the case of an OOA situation. Necklace or not, if you and your buddy are not sure what will happen in an OOA you put both of you in jeapordy.

MAINTAINING your octo/secondary/back-up/safe second is the next key. Make sure you try it out and that it deploys freely and easily. While it takes a second to put my octo into my "Scum ball" it takes NO time to pull it out. Make sure your buddy's octo works when you go over an OOA procedure. While putting a necklace on an octo will keep it out of the mud, it is surely not the only way to secure it from "dragging in the dirt". And it won't compensate for not taking care of it otherwise. Having an octo in the "golden triangle" does not make it unsafe or full of crap... you, the diver have control over that!!!

So either way you use it, make sure BOTH second stages are in top working order, are free of debris, and that at least one is easily deployed. Your buddy's too!

 

[pipedope]

I just looked at my buddies SPG and noticed that the pressure was down to about 600 psi so I terminated the dive.

No need to donate anything except a little attention.

All of the discussions of what is going to happen are mostly guesswork in the absence of prior planning, training and practice.

Where the DIR system works the best is that it has a well thought out equipment setup, good training and the dictum to dive with other divers who are trained the same way. Take away any one of these points and there is major potential for trouble.

The best rescue is the one you just prevented any need for.

 

[greyface]

I love this board! I've learned SO much, and I don't even start my OW class for another month! Contrary to some folks advice, I've bought most of my gear already. What do you experienced divers think of the Scubapro Air II, for "my" back up reg? I have the SP MK16 & R380 as primary. What potential problems do you see with this set-up? Is the hose on the R380 long enough? The buddy I plan to dive with has the Air II on his bc as well. I WILL practice OOA scenerios with him on a regular basis. TIA!

 

[GP]

Right now I donate my primary and breath from my Octo+ but I've recently ordered an ATX 40 backup and a DIR hose kit from EE.

 

[Rick Murchison]

Originally posted by greyface
What do you experienced divers think of the Scubapro Air II, for "my" back up reg? I have the SP MK16 & R380 as primary. What potential problems do you see with this set-up? Is the hose on the R380 long enough? The buddy I plan to dive with has the Air II on his bc as well. I WILL practice OOA scenerios with him on a regular basis. TIA!

The Air II works fine and delivers plenty of air at recreational depths. You can still control your BC while breathing it and making an ascent. Because you and your buddy will be restricted in your juxtaposition by the short hoses on your primary regulators should you need to share air, practice is the key to making this system work well and safely. Normally a face-to-face ascent with the OOA diver holding onto the donor's BC works quite well. If you need to swim horizontally to the ascent line then a position just above either shoulder of the donor works well, again with the OOA diver maintaining positive contact with the donor.
Practice.
Rick

 

[detroit diver]

Originally posted by greyface
.....What do you experienced divers think of the Scubapro Air II, for "my" back up reg?.....

I'm sorry to say this (cause you already own it!) but I think that the AIRII and it's cousins are terrible.

New divers can't control their bouyancy very well without adding the complexity of this new equipment. Think of these situations:

1. You're in a real OOA situation. You're partner has just yanked the reg from your mouth and he/she is flying all over the place due to drastically changed breathing patterns. You go for your AIRII to breath and now you've got to remember which buttons to push to breath and which to push to control buoyancy. Take the AIRII out of your mouth to descend. Put it back in to breath and ascend. Yikes! Then add this:

2. Your BC inflator valve sticks open. You've got 2 new choices:

a. Leave it connected and rocket to the suface with your panic'd friend. or

b. Disconnnect the inflator hose. Now you've got no air to breath for yourself!

Brilliant invention. Sorry, I don't like it at all.

Jack

 

[MASS-Diver]

I donate my primary (on a 7' hose) then switch off to my secondary. The OOA diver really needs air right away, I know I can hold my breath for a bit while I switch off to my secondary.

 

[Uncle Pug]

Originally posted by Rick Murchison

The Air II works fine and delivers plenty of air at recreational depths.

If you need to swim horizontally to the ascent line then a position just above either shoulder of the donor works well, again with the OOA diver maintaining positive contact with the donor.
Practice.
Rick

Wow Rick... sounds like the Air II takes some avanced skills and plenty of practice...